Founding a Facade (Part 2)

[Zarae Zyne Kilanatlar]

((if im out of line, let me know and i will edit it. just gunna assume some things from what i had created of the city till corrected.))

"catch up when we get somewhere safe?" she whispered.
--

nearing the familair place, for some odd reason beyond her own knowledge, she became anxious. her hidden eyes turned more bluish the closer she came. only indication was the often tugging of her hood over her face, despite that it hadnt uncovered her to begin with.

the city gate, she didnt know what to expect, but another rush of memories flooded over her. yet its atmosphere was different. something about the city had changed.
not thinking, she walked past the others in a near trance state, to see at her homeland. how much it had changed, and how much it had been the same.
the rothe and mushroom fields tended by House Tirin. The mighty Niar'haanin d' Renor Vlos flowing smoothly. the different parts of the city had changed. less buildings, and more ruins were now in place. the market place was the busiest. the raised plateau with the noble houses hadnt changed much. the cities temple seamed more worn down and less kept than she ever remembered; and the academy looked empty for the most part.

her eyes could not avoid looking where once the Kilanatlar compound stood. now it was a half ruined compound. thats was where she would try to start her investigation. Eyes then went searching for House Helvighym, the place she had last been before heading to the surface.
so focused in her nostalgia, she barely heard the voice(s) behind her.

[veraka]

Veraka, along with Neriah and Aurora, follow Phuerazath back to the gates of the city. Veraka, among a certain anxious dragon, frequently casts his gaze back towards the caves that they just came from to see if his friend and former student, might just come trudging back to them through there.

The paladin's attention then shifts back to the waiting dragon in drow skin, and he shakes his head; "Zhay will find his way back to the city;" the voice of the paladin speaks more of confidence than 'what-ifs', "whether or not he would admit it, he knows these tunnels and the surrounding area better than most drow of the city will admit."

=========================

"Yes. Lith My'athar is and has been my home since my childhood."

Zhay grunts lightly as he starts to stand up, and despite pain that surges through his system, he props himself upright. He looks around, and then points at one of the open tunnels, and proceeds down it's open corridor.

[color=indigo:1pi3pylz]"You weren't expecting it to come? At least tell me who the dragon is. You must have saved its life or done something better for it to go through so much trouble to save you." She sounds impressed.[/color:1pi3pylz]

The drow warrior turns to Maryne, and shakes his head; " to be frank, no, I was expecting my former master, in full-armor and battle-rage, to come roaring through there, with a couple of friends of his. If this dragon knows me, then I find myself lacking the memory to recall its name, and/or how I came to make it's acquaintance."

He looks around in the dark confines of the tunnel and keeps going, relying almost completely on memory from more than three decades ago, when he was barely a strong lad. The tunnel winds about and around for several hundred meters, continuously pushing the three drow through its pitch-black confines.

His eyes in their sensitive infravision, Zhay navigates the tunnel with near perfection, keeping close to walls, never straying to far ahead of Maryne and T'risstree, while keeping his senses open and ready.

"In truth, I can barely recall what happened to me right before I was jumped in the streets leading up to the Bazaar. From there, my memory is blurred at best."

[Pheurazath]

Vibrant eyes widen in brief surprise, and shock, when the paladin names her concerns, but this expression is quickly suppressed, and a glare is shot aside to him. He may suspect her identity, but he has not called it out, either out of courtesy, respect, or uncertainty, she can't yet decide which. In low voice, irritable and anxious Pheurazath declares, "You assume too much [i:33vcxidi]munthrek[/i:33vcxidi]. My interests in the Lolthites' former captive have simply doubled since so many came to his rescue, and most of my injuries were received freeing him from their hold. However, let us pray you are correct."

There is a hint of a threat there, yes, unspoken, undefined, but it's safe to assume, Zhay's survival is the difference between how forgiving she is, or isn't. Still, no point declaring enmity, before all the facts are in. Secretly though, privately she enjoys this game of suspicions and denial with Veraka...so far anyway.

[Aylstra Illianniis]

OOC: So are we all here again? Hard to tell with my limite access right now. Gawds, but I hate these stupid 1-hour limits....

IC: "I'm sure Sir Veraka is right, of course," He tells the dragon with a grin. "No doubt he will be along shortly. Perhaps now would be a good time to tell us your name, oh mighty wyrm? It would be silly for us to keep calling you 'dragon' since we seem to share a common abbil." He makes no mention that he already suspects the reason for that commonality, though he wonders just how dense a person would have to be to not realize the reason behind the dragon's concern, or the meaning of it.

As they enter the gates, he glances around at the city, once more overcome by a feeling of uncomfortable familiarity. It is so much like Terrillis, and yet different. No harbor, for one thing. But the river- that is similar. So is most of the architechture, naturally. He shudders at the thought of the temples of Terrillis, and the Great Houses of the nobility; and he remembers with disgust how many times he was dragged into the boudoir of some noble female, just because his infamous sire had chosen not to abolish those damned edicts of the Council after he took power.

[Pheurazath]

((OOC: We're short two players of course, but otherwise, yeah, I think we're all back, provided we allow for life issues that may keep any of us away for awhile now and then.))

[quote:2o8dtk1n]"I'm sure Sir Veraka is right, of course," He tells the dragon with a grin. "No doubt he will be along shortly. Perhaps now would be a good time to tell us your name, oh mighty wyrm? It would be silly for us to keep calling you 'dragon' since we seem to share a common abbil."[/quote:2o8dtk1n]

Well obviously she's not about to reveal everything quite so soon, it just wouldn't do to have so many persons informed of the connection, at least not this soon, at the very best she hopes the secret may be kept from most of her new neighbors, until there are dragon-blooded offspring which the rest of the city would soon enough notice for their differences. No, not yet, so instead she casts Lothir a scowling glare, which fades to a toothy grin, predatory and mocking, [color=indigo:2o8dtk1n]"You wish to address me by name little bard? Why should I allow this, hmmm? Am I to be your muse for some epic tale? You should know I normally don't allow strange males I hardly know, address me by name without at least a romantic evening of hunting wild Rothe, or offerings of gold or magical items."[/color:2o8dtk1n]

And then of course there is the matter of little Charir, whom had been sent along with the bard, to tell him and Aurora to escape from the cave-in. Without even a word to the house cat-sized pseudodragon, he finally departs Lothir's shoulder, and returns to Pheurazath, taking perch upon the shoulder joint of one of her wings, and carefully inspecting the damages. Being just conversational, and matter-of-fact with his racial telepathy, tells Aurora directly, [color=red:2o8dtk1n]~I think she's making exceptions for this large Drow they're all waiting for. Can't imagine what she sees in him, but Mistress Pheurazath has her reasons, I suppose.~[/color:2o8dtk1n]

She is hesitant to leave the caves behind, at least so long as Zhay is not ahead of her, or if necessary, carried upon her back, but there is the respect she holds for Veraka, and his faith in Zhay's abilities, she decides she must let be enough for now. Once beyond those gates, and within those walls, surely enough the sight of a Deep Dragon, even one of her youthful juvenile age, nearly into her young adult years, is enough to raise some brows, and give a number of guards reason for being more alert. Still, those that may gather to keep an eye on her, would soon enough find as her companions already know, she is not flight-worthy, and has seen recent battle. Recognizing the guard captain from her previous entry as Kalkyril, requests, [color=indigo:2o8dtk1n]"Usstan gumash kl'ae natha k'lar ulu v'dre lu'recover dal ussta hery."[/color:2o8dtk1n]

[Zarae Zyne Kilanatlar]

catching the last phrase of the strange drowess, Zarae's mind returned to the present, an she began to think, which inn/tavern would be best? But she' been gone so long, she had no idea of how much the city had changed. being distracted, she hadnt thought to pay attention to the fact of the strange matron leading the group.

(speak in drow unless noted)
"do yall already have rooms at an inn? or a place to stay," she ask taking a few slow steps forward.

[Arya Baenre]

[color=#4000FF:1f6ekfxt]"To be frank, no, I was expecting my former master, in full-armor and battle-rage, to come roaring through there, with a couple of friends of his. If this dragon knows me, then I find myself lacking the memory to recall its name, and/or how I came to make it's acquaintance."[/color:1f6ekfxt]

"You think your former master would have come after you? Unfinished business?" She smiles sadly at the thought, trying to remember what she saw in the big cavern, "I didn't have enough time to see everyone, but the leader was a female drow, I think. There may have been something else with them, but the ceiling collapsed too quickly to tell."

[color=#4000FF:1f6ekfxt]"In truth, I can barely recall what happened to me right before I was jumped in the streets leading up to the Bazaar. From there, my memory is blurred at best."[/color:1f6ekfxt]

Maryne quickens her pace to keep up with Zhay, her hands out to one side so that she won't walk into any walls. She suddenly remembers seeing him meet with Veraka and pieces together the reason the aasimar must have chased the drow group all the way here, "You know Veraka, don't you? We came here following him. A friend told us that he had rushed off into these tunnels and we chased him here ... well that explains what we came here to find. Now all we have to do is get you back." She turns around for a moment before turning back after Zhay, "I hope they had enough sense to go back to the city. It seemed like Veraka would have blown an entire city apart to come for you. And I don't think he knows that dragon saved you."

[veraka]

At the banter between Lothir and the morphed dragon, Veraka raises a snowy white brow, and gives a dumbfounded expression; "Lothir, you already have ONE dragon blooded female to deal with, might I suggest you keep it at that number."
At this, Neriah giggles to the point of where it becomes infectious and damn near uncontrollable. However, a light squeeze of the hand from her aasimar lover and she calms down, regaining her composure.

"And hunting wild rothe? Lady black scale, what kind of foreplay is that?" Neriah spoke up, her laughing fit threatening to take over again. Veraka turns his head in complete shock towards his wife, and is stunned with her blunt and blatant remark towards, not only a dragon, but perhaps one that has a keen interest in his former student. However, Veraka couldn't help but smirk at Neriah's antics, it is one of the many reasons why he loves her.

At Zarae's question, Neriah turned to Veraka and looked him in the eye; "that's a good question that she poses; do you have a place to stay. I would hate to have to find rooms for the two of us if you don't already have one set up." The expression on the fey'ri's face told Veraka that she was serious about that last statement, and that should the paladin not have a place to stay, there would be the Hells to pay.

Veraka turns toward his wife, his silver eyes softening and says; "Yes, sweetheart. I've already acquired a place to stay for the duration of my visit here."

Neriah nodded her acceptance of that; however, Veraka knew, given the look on the fey'ri's face, he knew that she already had something more planned for him later, when they got back to Veraka's room.


Aurora picks up on Charir's statement; shaking her white, furry head, the wolf retorts; [i:1vophuq1]You're preaching to the choir, Small Wing. I put up with that fey'ri everyday that she's around my little brother. Believe me, when Veraka took Neriah as his mate, I thought he'd hit his head to hard inside that helmet of his. Turns out, he has more than one reason for loving that fey'ri woman, now two more reasons well on the way. Let your mistress decide what she will. All we acn do is make sure that they don't completely lose themselves to stupidity in times of stress.[/i:1vophuq1]

=======================================

The guard-captain notices his old paladin acquaintance, Veraka coming back through the gates again, this time, with a deep Dragon, at the head of their group. He raises a gloved hand to steady his men, but some still are anxious. When in the company of dragons, one could never be too complacent.
[color=#4000BF:1vophuq1]"Ka dos inbaln't muth l'El'inssrigg quin, flohlu nindel d'nilok rathrea dos."[/color:1vophuq1]
With that said, he waves a hand to let his guards know to let them pass without incident.

======================================

Zhay looks partially confused at Maryne, then realized that what she was saying was that there was a possibility that Veraka had been buried alive under a collapsing ceiling, while he had made it out a alive. Zhay felt his heart sink with his soul.
"He wouldn't have come after me to finish me off or something like that no. You have to understand, he is a paladin of the highest standard, and would willingly throw himself into the fire if it meant protecting someone he cared about. IN truth, I really don't know why he would come after me into these caves, if not anything to punish those responsible; though I suppose that doesn't matter really anymore."

[color=indigo:1vophuq1]"You know Veraka, don't you? We came here following him. A friend told us that he had rushed off into these tunnels and we chased him here ... well that explains what we came here to find. Now all we have to do is get you back."[/color:1vophuq1]

"Yes, Veraka was the one who taught me everything I know about swordsmanship. He apparently had an eye for talent, even when he was just an adolescent. From, his tutelage, I gained enough skill with a blade to enlist in the city guard. Saved me the trouble of having to deal with any Lolthian priestesses that came by on a random notice, and had a taste that they wanted satisfied right then and there; errr, no offense." He inclined his head towards Maryne, indicating he wasn't referring to her and any Dark Dancer as well.
"As to getting out of here, well. . . "
Zhay keeps his pace while keeping his eyes trained on the path ahead of him, not wanting to make a single mistake and take a wrong turn, especially now. He rounds more bends in the dark, his tempered infravision tracking very subtle, but still fresh heat signatures on boot prints that flowed in two directions, one set in particular stuck out to him.
"My former master passed this way, and it looks like they were here barely 15 minutes ago."

[Pheurazath]

A curious gaze skips from Lothir to Veraka at this chiding reminder of another draconic female, and lets a low chuckle roll out for a couple seconds. Then a pause as Neriah asks a query she is neither certain is serious, or jesting. Even as Veraka's shocked expression turns on this, she lowers her head and croons low, [color=#BF40FF:2q6h61hb]"Foregoing mention of details that might turn your Aasimar red as a Drow eye... a hunt allows me to evaluate a suitor's ability to provide, should I be unable to join him, due to... conditions limiting my mobility."[/color:2q6h61hb] She really does try to be very subtle in phrasing this without being so cryptic as to not make any sense. There are just some things not for discussion in public, or company of males in general, without generous helpings of subtlety.

Once allowed to enter, Pheurazath parts ways from the company of the rest of this party, well enough able to pick out the signs of anxiety, perhaps even hints of fear in the many guards witness to her arrival and entry, once within the safety of those walls, carefully props herself up against the wall, to raise her head up to the level of its walkways, [color=#BF40FF:2q6h61hb]"Mzilt treemma Usstan filut phor ghil, xal Aasterinian ori'gato ol tlu ji, jalbyr d'dosst nesstren zhal'la tlu reztorm ulnin. Ulu skrel rarr ulu resch rena Usstan v'dre lu'o'goth, Usstan orn'la al'doer biu escort. 'zil dos zhal kyorl, vel'drav dos doer harl dal dosst reibe, ussta alti'uin ph'torn. 'zil whol dosst nesst, qualla sila ukta ulu uns'aa vel'drav uk reshka."[/color:2q6h61hb] All this said, she gives no reasoning for her second request, only a tone of voice that implies the missing man en route home, is somehow connected to her injuries.

Little Charir huffs, dissatisfied with the advice, but knowing it's truth,[color=#FF0000:2q6h61hb] ~Perhaps I should go back to the tunnels, and look for him then? ~[/color:2q6h61hb]

[Zarae Zyne Kilanatlar]

Shaking her head, she turns back to the fey'ri and aasimir and chuckles at the love tween them. Of course she doesnt allow herself to think on such matters, even if she takes a quick glance at the bard and quickly turns her attention back to the couple hoping none see or catch on, "where?" she asked, "I mean, is this where [i:1ewrl29o]every[/i:1ewrl29o]one is staying?"

[Arya Baenre]

Maryne nods at his explanation. "Ah, when you mentioned that someone must have come after you I feared the worst. You seem to be good at making friends," she quips lightly. "First an aasimar, now somehow a dragon. There has to be a trick to it."

[color=#4000BF:132zpz40]"Saved me the trouble of having to deal with any Lolthian priestesses that came by on a random notice, and had a taste that they wanted satisfied right then and there; errr, no offense." He inclined his head towards Maryne, indicating he wasn't referring to her and any Dark Dancer as well. [/color:132zpz40]

"None taken." She grins at his cautiousness, "I believe the city owes you thanks for saving their lives many a time, I'm sure."

At Zhay's comment, she looks at the heat tracks leading away from them, assuming the largest tracks were what Zhay mentioned. A quick glance at the tunnel made it clear that there wasn't a fight within the tunnel, and nothing seemed to have followed the group. "Excellent. We should reach the city soon, then. From what I can remember it wasn't that far to the cavern we found you in. And it looks like they aren't being followed." Hopeful, she quickens her pace just a bit, following the path. "They say it's wrong to think this way, but I hope that all those that captured you back in the cavern died when it collapsed. It would certainly rid many of future troubles."

[Aylstra Illianniis]

"Er, Veraka, that particular draconic female is unfortunately not here. And I wasn't intending to court yon sacled lady, just to make her acquaintance better- at least enough to know whose maw I'm being devoured by, should it ever come to that," he quips, chuckling. He turns to the dragoness, and grins. "Hunting wild rothe? Interesting, I'd have thought you'd prefer more challenging game- a cave fisher or hook horror, perhaps? I've brought down both a time or three. Used to go out into the wilds all the time as a boy- alone, I might add, and unbeknownst to my family, which would have been awkward to explain if I'd been seriously injured. But no, I did not ask your name out of some desire to write a song or powm about you, just friendly curiosity. Unless you WANT one. I've a little ditty that you might find amusing, however. It goes like this..."

“H’uena trilaren…”, or “Once Bitten….”
Gaer h’uena zhahus natha s’gos waelin d’aron- There once was a brave young knight,
Gaer h’uena zhahus natha wenress fei’ir- There once was a maiden fair;
Jhal natha tagnik’zur xunus olplynir l’ wenress- But a dragon did steal the maiden,
Lueth flamgra’us ilta plak’la’la lauske- And toasted her golden hair.
Nin l’ d’aron uk xunus che l’ wenress- Now the knight he did love the maiden,
Lueth ulu elgg l’ tagnik’zur uk swariyau- And to kill the dragon he swore;
Jhal l’ tagnik’zur xuil uss tril xunus cal ukta- But the dragon with one chomp did eat him,
Nin nindel s’gos waelin d’aron zhah nau mzild- Now that brave young knight is no more!


"My friend Sivestrik always loved that one. He was a silver I once knew." He adds, with a soft sigh.

[veraka]

The Guard captain merely nods his head towards Pheurazath, then pointing towards four of his guards, and signalling them to accompany Veraka, and the Deep dragon to wherever their destination is. The four guards, though all of them compliant, look to each other nervously, and then descend the gate tower towards the Deep Dragon. Veraka, noting their hesitance, waves them to walk behind him and the others, much to their relief, while he takes up the lead, guiding the group down the series of narrow alleys, and backstreets towards the inn where they originally set foot in to sleep.


Neriah quirks a brow at the deep dragon with mild bemusement; "Pardon my saying, Lady blackscale, but I'm bearing this paladin's," she taps Veraka on the shoulder with a slender, elven finger, "twin children for over a year now, and I didn't catch him complaining when I said I was going to come along on his adventures, wherever he went."

Veraka scoffed at his fey'ri wife, turning his silver eyes toward her, "Complaining? ME?!" The astonishment in the aasimar's eyes was very obvious; "last I recall, it was [b:3r2b1pws]you[/b:3r2b1pws] who was complaining about not coming with me, and it was for [i:3r2b1pws]other[/i:3r2b1pws] reasons than just accompanying me on my quests."

Neriah cocked a flaming red brow, though the smirk on her lips didn't leave it's place on her mouth.

Veraka then turned to Pheurazath, and then, as blunt as a dwarven hammer, said; "So, Kalkyril, it would be be prudent to say that you have considered my former apprentice as a suitable mate?" Neriah went damn near dropjaw at her husbands antics; however, Veraka, knew, at least from what his mother had taught him and from his lessons as a paladin of Bahamut,some dragons liked being blunt, others not so much. Kalkyril, he suspected, would be taken aback, not by his words, but more by his timing of the statement.

At Lothir's quips, Neriah chuckles and then replies; "ohh please Lothir; hunting Hook Horrors and other natural predatory creatures of the Underdark? Can't you drow males think of anything more fervent than that? My love here has taken me with him to fight my ancestors before; such battles make for much more than simple wonders out into the dark; especially when one's soul is on the line. and yet, when your wrathful ancestor is about to strike your love down, a mighty Solar comesd own to assist my husband. It makes the battle all the more interesting when you learn the the Solar that has come to assist you is none other than the mightiest of archangels, and the mother of my lover as well. Such conflicts make for much, [b:3r2b1pws]much[/b:3r2b1pws] more entertaining events." The was zeal in Neriah's eyes that, one might think, bordered the insane; however, if one's eyes could read another's or one could detect the subtle hints of smell, they'd know that Neriah was speaking the bold truth, despite it's very chaotic and suicidal ways.


========================


Zhay gives a wanning glance back at Maryne, whom, despite being a priestess of the Dark Maiden, he is surprised to hear her saying such spiteful words. However, Zhay knows all to well the vindictiveness of drow society.
The young fighter knows that they are not too far from the gates of the city, if the heat signatures of Veraka's boot prints were correct, it is the set of claw prints that has him wondering whether or not he was really rescued by a dragon, and, should that logic prove correct, why would a [b:3r2b1pws]dragon[/b:3r2b1pws] come after him. He then has a curiosity about his mind that he feels he needs to ask.

"Maryne, I have a query for you; How did you end up with the Dark Dancers; I've not seen your face around the temple up until recently, and even then, it was really not all the often?"

[Pheurazath]

In spite of the only mild pain of the damaged wings, now only in need of a few tendays healing, or less with the aid of magic, finds a bit of pleased amusement in the wary glances of the four guardsmen. Purring her delight, the last to pass her by and follow with Veraka's lead gets a gentle headbutt on the hip, followed with,[color=#BF00BF:2lfz66sd] "Caution may keep you alive, but do not forget to be bold. a guard should be made of sterner stuff, than to have his nerve shaken by an injured dragon, not yet even into adulthood."[/color:2lfz66sd]

[quote:2lfz66sd]Neriah quirks a brow at the deep dragon with mild bemusement; "Pardon my saying, Lady blackscale, but I'm bearing this paladin's," she taps Veraka on the shoulder with a slender, elven finger, "twin children for over a year now, and I didn't catch him complaining when I said I was going to come along on his adventures, wherever he went."[/quote:2lfz66sd]
Something akin to a grin, or perhaps a smirk works across Pheurazath's muzzle, even as the indicated paladin puts his own two cents in, she croons to Neriah,[color=#BF00BF:2lfz66sd] "Is that all? 'tis a wonder you bipeds expand so rapidly producing such small broods. Even at my present age, I could expect a clutch of at least three or four."[/color:2lfz66sd]

[quote:2lfz66sd]Veraka then turned to Pheurazath, and then, as blunt as a dwarven hammer, said; "So, Kalkyril, it would be be prudent to say that you have considered my former apprentice as a suitable mate?"[/quote:2lfz66sd]
This did catch her a little by surprise, certain she hadn't let on in any way that one identity was connected to the other. In only a brief hesitation with cocked head does it occur to her, it's a ploy to make her admit to his suspicions without voicing them. Springing right off from that cocked head and confused expression, answers, [color=#BF00BF:2lfz66sd]"Perhaps one of those falling rocks hit your head harder than I thought. Tell me, you strange little man, what ever gives you this notion that I am this 'Kalkyril' person, or that I have designs to breed with your student?"[/color:2lfz66sd]
She won't give him the pleasure of exposing her secrets that easily, especially not in the company of these guards, whom in coming days, months, and years, if her plans are to remain on track MUST believe that Kalkyril is exactly who she appears, and claims to be. The only alternative would be to find way to stuff them somewhere where they'll be too preoccupied to speak of it, or find some leverage to make them hold their tongues. Veraka will have to build his case quite well if he wishes to expose her secret identity publicly.

[quote:2lfz66sd]"ohh please Lothir; hunting Hook Horrors and other natural predatory creatures of the Underdark? Can't you drow males think of anything more fervent than that? My love here has taken me with him to fight my ancestors before....[/quote:2lfz66sd]
Somewhere in the middle of this, Pheurazath just shakes her head a little, and glances aside to Aurora, [color=#BF00BF:2lfz66sd]"Glad someone around here understands the difference between proof of ability to hunt for food, rather than proof of ability to hunt for trophies, which while glorious and all, do little to provide nourishment for hatchlings, yet too young to hunt on their own."[/color:2lfz66sd]
Not very likely that Pheurazath could understand any manner of reply from the wolf, beyond perhaps an expression of understanding. Hook Horrors, and demons are great prey for glory-seekers, not so great for filling hungry bellies.

======================================

Now, as for Charir, it's not that he's been terribly quiet this whole time, just determined that if he can't snap his Mistress out of wanting this Drow for a mate, then it's in his best interests to make any efforts he can to ensure she gets what she desires. Off he has flown, back over the gates, and out into the tunnels, following the route they had just come by, and this way, it is not long before he comes upon Zhay, and comes to perch on the large Drow's shoulder, as if it were his rightful place, uttering a little annoyed growl, whilst using his racial telepathy toward Zhay, [color=#FF0000:2lfz66sd]<<Why are you standing about gawking at the path before you?! The city is near, and lingering out here risks drawing attention of things that will only be in hiding for so long after that cave-in! Had I any say in it, your life is now property of my Mistress, getting injured and bleeding all over for sake of your life, like she did. Now, let us hurry along before you cause her anymore distress!>>[/color:2lfz66sd]
From the tone of his 'voice', as it were, Charir is a bit jealous, as well as caring a great deal about the sorceress he serves.

[Aylstra Illianniis]

At thecomments from the two females- dragon and fey-ri alike, the bard laughs out loud. "Neriah, DO keep in mind that this was unsupervised explorations of previously unknown regions of the Underdark around my home- to this day, I am STILL the only one who ever even found those tunnels, so far as I know- AND it was while I was still just a child! To a young boy, it was every bit as dangerous as fighting any of your relatives in the lower planes was for you. The first thing I ever killed was a fully grown cave fisher- they get to be ten feet long, you know- and it fell on top of me and left me pinned under it with broken ribs for half a day when it died. Things got even worse whe a pair of carrion crawlers started munching on the corpse with me still under it. I'd not be here now if not for the aid of a certain aranea female I had made acquaintance with. Acquainance meaning that she tried to eat me, and in the battle between us she ended up getting skewered on a stalagtite. I saved her life by cutting her down off of it. Fortunately for me she was in the mood to return the favor. So there's your life and death struggle, Lady Neriah."

Then he turns to the dragoness. "As you can see, that was no hunt for any mere trophy- I was not out LOOKING for that fisher- IT found ME. Same goes for the hook horrors and all the rest of the nasty beasties I managed to kill whenever I went out to explore those tunnels. And what do you mean does not bring nourishment to the young? I take it you've never eaten mushroom bread smothered in cave fisher jelly, or roasted hook horror meat? Or purple worm steaks? Takes a bit of getting used to, I suppose, if you haven't tried them before, but it was standard fare back home."